Bukela Game Lodge - Amakhala Game Reserve

Arrived at Bukela for my 3 night stay at 3.45pm. By 4pm I was on my first safari! This place does not disappoint. Game drives last for : hours. You get a wake up call at 5am for a “pre-breakfast breakfast at 5.30am then you are off at 6am the morning drive. You have the same ranger driving you during your stay. I had Monde who absolutely superb. He went out of his way to try and ensure we saw as many of the animals as possible and was so informative about their habits. Surprisingly, tall giraffes and herds of elephants hide very easily! As others have mentioned bring a warm hat and fleece for the early mornings and evenings, then can be rather chilly. Also remember your sunscreen as it can be jolly hot in the day. Over six game drives I saw all the animals I had wanted to except a brown hyena or a leopard who were too elusive. The accommodation was really nice. I had a luxury tent which large and had a bath you could look out over the grounds from while soaking in and an outdoor shower which was terrific. You have your own balcony. The food was ample and lovely. The staff were all very nice and attentive. It was a truly magnificent experience which I thoroughly recommend.

A very welcoming resort without fences where animals can roam around. We had a phantastic stay in the tent adjacent to the waterhole (No. 11). We enjoyed the great hospitality of the entire team with resort manager Jennie and Duty Manager Zusiphi. Delicious food and drinks were provided all day. During the game drives with Ranger Wonga we were able to see the Big Five and many more.

This is an absolute must don’t you are on the Eastern Cape. We did 4 drives and saw all if the big 6. What made it even more special was not just the professionalism of the company but the outstanding tour guide Ryan. Just such a knowledgeable, passionate & enthusiastic person and homemade this a lifetime memory.

Ranger: Wonga 5* Superb ranger is very knowledgeable, passionate about the animals, and flexible with structuring each drive to suit all. His experience and game drives were the best part of our 3 night stay. Room 3.0* Main issues no hot water each evening as blew fuse every day in No.8 halfway through showering. Variable housekeeping, i.e., turn down service 1 room got bedtime stories the other room didn't. 1 had an electric blanket, and the other didn't. Housekeeping variable. Service 3.0* All staff were friendly. However, for an all-inclusive service , staff were not always visible or available pre-lunch/dinner service to provide coffees or drinks around bar and pool areas. We were not made aware that SA KWV Brandy was chargeable despite the bar server upselling! Our last day fell short of expectation for a 5* resort due to miscommunication, and it tainted our overall experience. Basically, if you leave after 11 am, but Trailfinders don't arrange pick up until 15:30, you are expected to pay as you go for lunch, water, and drinks - but this is not advised upon arrival meeting or by Trailfinders! We have never experienced this in any other All Inclusive location. Usually, it's a "swings & roundabouts" scenario as guests do not arrive and depart at the same time. Food 3.0* Breakfast was good each day. Lunch & Dinner, we had 50% errors/mistakes on our pre-orders (4 pax) on 2 out of 3 days. Our final night we received excellent service and the best food. Public Areas 3.0* Toilets - no hot water or sanitiser. Taps constantly fall off fixtures. Hand soap broken and paper towel dispenser erratic. As a group of 4 travelling, sadly, we could not recommend Bukela to anyone else.

I had high hopes for this reserve but feel rather nonplussed having ‘escaped’. The reserve is huge, but there is one pride of lions, one group of elephants and 3 cheetahs. It was a cattle farm that has been given over to these animals, but it just felt like a big UK safari park. One is not permitted to walk from accommodation to dining area and you have to call reception to get an escort. Even though the lodge wasn’t full, no one answered our call for 30 minutes and so we started to walk and were chastised by the escort who eventually arrived. If you wish so do other activities they are chargeable…and without being able to go for walks, there is very little to do. The food was generally good, and restaurant staff charming. We were there for 3 nights…6 game drives….but the guide seemed bored and not keen to engage with us.

We had such an incredible time whilst visiting Bukela. Our luxury tent was very comfortable and clean. The food was plentiful and good. Abbey was our ranger. She was very knowledgeable,great company as well as finding so many animals. Our final morning culminated in watching a cheetah hunt. Great place to visit.